Clubfoot is when one or both feet  turns inwards and downwards. It is a congenital disease which means it is present at birth. This condition occurs when the tissues that connect muscles to bone (tendons)  in your legs are shorter than usual. This pulls the foot in an abnormal position . Babies with clubfoot may have abnormal foot bones, ankles joints and muscles.

What causes clubfoot ?

The exact cause of this condition is unknown and there is no way to prevent it. However certain factors increases your risk of getting it.

• being  a boy
• having other birth defects like cerebral palsy or spina bifida
• having a family history of clubfoot
• having an infection or smoking or using street drugs during pregnancy
• you had   oligohydramnios ( low amniotic fluid) during pregnancy

What problems can clubfoot cause ?

Problems caused by this condition  can range from mild to severe . Clubfoot is not painful and wont bother the baby until he begins to stand or walk. If not treated , he may have problems walking correctly such as walking on the side of his feet instead of the sole of the feet. This may cause infection at the part of the feet he walks abnormally on. When not treated , it can result arthritis.

How do you know if your baby has clubfoot ?

This condition can be diagnosed  during a physical examination of your baby after birth. Your doctor may also use other tests such as x-ray. Sometimes an ultrasound may be used to tell if your baby has clubfoot before he is born. Even though the condition cannot be treated until the baby is born, it helps you plan ahead for treatment.

How is clubfoot treated ?

An orthopedic surgeon  who is a doctor with special training in bones can help you understand best what treatment  is  good for your baby. Most children with this condition use to be treated with surgery. Now the condition can be treated without surgery. The treatment works best when it is started early, as early as one week. With early treatment,  most children grow up to wear regular shoes  and have active normal lives. The treatment could includes :

• stretching  and casting (also called the Ponseti method) : This is the most common treatment. It usually starts in the first 2 weeks of life. During the procedure, your baby’s doctor stretches the baby’s foot to the  correct position  and puts it in  a cast. Every 4 to 7 days, the provider takes off the cast and moves the baby’s foot closer to the correct position and the puts  on a new cast. Before your baby gets his last cast, the doctor may cut the heel cord. This is the tendon that connects the heel to the muscle in your baby’s calf. This will allow the cord to grow to a normal length by the time the last  cast comes off. This procedure fixes the problem in about 2 to 3 months. After this the baby can do stretching exercises to help keep the feet in the right position. He may also need to eat special shoes  or braces at night for a few years
• stretching, taping and splinting (also called the French method): This   stretches your baby’s foot toward the correct position and uses tape and splints to hold it that way. This treatment starts right after birth and is done everyday for 2 months and then less often till 6 months.  After this, you can use stretching exercises and night splints to help keep your baby’s feet in the right position until she starts to walk.
• surgery : If the baby’s condition is severe and stretching treatments do not work, it can be treated with surgery.  It is best to have the surgery before the baby starts to walk. Surgery  can help make the heel cord longer and  fix other problems of the feet. Your baby may be in a cast for 6 to 8 weeks after surgery.